Kaitlin McKinley Becker

‘Still a Lot of Work to Be Done': Boston Students React to Bill Cosby Guilty Verdict

Students at the women’s centered Simmons College in Boston are reacting to the resilience of the women who stood up to comedian and TV star Bill Cosby.

“I think it does show women have a voice and they can speak up for themselves,” said one student.”

“I think the platform has opened up. However, I think there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said another student.

The now 80-year-old, once known as “America’s Dad,” was convicted Thursday of sexual assault charges during a retrial.

Andrea Constand, was the first sexual assault survivor to come forward against Cosby, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2004.

In all, over decades, there’s been about 60 total accusers.

In the retrial, the women often referenced the recent #MeToo movement, that women are demanding to be heard.

“The movement allows for people of all genders, anyone really, to go on the internet and say this happened to me. They haven’t been able to previously because people don’t want to talk about it,” said student Alex Bohanan.

Attorney and women and children’s victim advocate Wendy Murphy says she’s surprised but pleased that Bill Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial:

“What this symbolizes is the opposite of what most people think is true about our legal system, which is that if you’re wealthy, important, powerful and influential you are never held accountable and by and large that’s been true. To me this case symbolizes a turn of that leaf.”

Cosby could face up to 30 years in prison.

He’ll be sentenced within the next 90 days.

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